“Naval Base Ventura County has the potential to become a center for power projection into ungoverned spaces,” said Craig Hooper, senior contributor, Forbes Magazine. “The base has a long history of working on Polar projects.”
May
Top Gun: Maverick, the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 original starring Tom Cruise, soared into theaters showing first-of-its-kind special camera footage inside and outside the cockpit of F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet aircraft and featuring U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps pilots performing on multiple ships and shore facilities.
Sailors from NBVC attended star-studded screenings in Hollywood, while an advanced premiere was hosted at Port Hueneme, Needham Theater.
“Through our Navy Office of Information in Los Angeles, we will continue to support film and television projects, and to help Hollywood realistically and accurately characterize life in the world’s finest Navy,” said Cmdr. David Benham, director of public affairs, Navy Recruiting Command.
June
Naval Satellite Operations Center (NAVSOC) transferred to the U.S. Space Force (USSF), under Space Delta 8 and designated as the 10th Space Operations Squadron, during a historic Disestablishment and Assumption of Command Ceremony, onboard Point Mugu.
“For 60-years NAVSOC has advocated and advanced American maritime superiority,” said Vice Adm. Ross Myers, commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet. “NAVSOC enabled satellite communications to afford the United States and her allies the crucial ability to provide defensive measures, conduct over the horizon monitoring and targeting, and project combat power in areas of conflict and instability around the globe.”
NAVSOC, was the first military space operations command in history, commissioned in Apr. 1962 as the Navy Astronautics Group. Tasked with operating the Navy’s satellites, the unit commanded TRANSIT, the world’s first satellite navigation system. Navy Astronautics Group was redesignated as NAVSOC in Jun. 1990.
August
Point Mugu hosted approximately 50 aircraft supporting multiple test events intended to provide unit-level training for pilots and aircrews on the Point Mugu Sea Range.
The annual joint-force exercise garnered public attention for hosting several test vehicles, including what was reported as F-35C Strike Fighters configured with mosaic mirror panels and AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range missiles.
“A wide variety of specialized assets are participating that are capable of presenting, or least mimicking, an equally diverse array of threat profiles,” said Tyler Rogoway, editor-in-chief, The War Zone. “Of the other notable aircraft beyond the mirrored F-35C is the Air Force’s F-117 Nighthawk, and the EA-18G with the NGJ-MB pods.”
September
NBVC held a ceremony to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The event included a wreath-laying ceremony, speeches, WWII flyover, honor guard, and 500 motorcycle riders participating in “Ride to the Flags.”
“We put the names of 9/11 victims on an F/18 along with the words, ‘Never Forget,’” said Capt. Brad “Brick” Conners (ret), former commanding officer, NBVC. “But today, in addition to ‘Never Forget,’ we need to say, ‘Never Again.’”
October
For the first time in 43 years, Port Hueneme Navy Exchange (NEX) won the 2021 Bingham Award, by the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), the highest honor a store can receive.
“At NEXCOM our purpose is to sustain and supply Naval forces with quality-of-life benefits,” said Rear Adm. Robert Bianchi (ret.), chief executive officer, NEXCOM. “The Port Hueneme NEX epitomize who we are as an organization and what we stand for each and every day.”
November
Capt. Robert “Barr” Kimnach III, commanding officer, NBVC, and additional staff officers participated in Veterans Day ceremonies in and around Ventura County.
“California has more military bases and personnel than any other state,” said Kimnach, delivering the keynote remarks at Port Hueneme’s City Hall. “California has produced over 2-million veterans and pausing to reflect on their service brings into sharper focus the deeds and needs of those living alongside us.”
December
The U.S. Navy Seabee Museum (USNSM) has achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.
“Earning Alliance Accreditation has shaped the USNSM’s strategic vision for the past 15 years. In preparation for the accreditation review the USNSM staff has worked mindfully to bring all aspects of museum operations up to the highest professional industry standards and best practices,” said Dr. Lara Godbille, Director of the USNSM. “The museum staff is so proud of accomplishing this for the Seabee community and knowing their history and heritage is being preserved and shared expertly.”
NBVC is a strategically located Navy installation composed of three operating facilities: Point Mugu, Port Hueneme and San Nicolas Island. NBVC is the home of the Pacific Seabees, West Coast E-2C Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers and 80 tenants.
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This piece is written by Ensign Drew Verbis from the Naval Base Ventura County. Want to feature your story? Reach out to us at [email protected].
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